RI language needs promotion

RI language needs promotion

SURABAYA, East Java: Regents and majors in East Java show no
interest in promoting the Indonesian national language, or Bahasa
Indonesia, despite the fact that up to two million people in the
province do not speak it.

Head of East Java language promotion agency Slamet Riyadi told
Antara news agency that he had sent circulars and data for
regents and mayors about the lack of mastery of the language, but
apparently he received no response.

He said the lack of economic gains to be made from promoting
the language as the main reason behind the officials' refusal to
support the program.

The agency, nevertheless, has embarked on its own program to
teach Bahasa Indonesia, mainly for the two million-strong
population in the eastern part of the province.

A report from the Indonesian Language Center in Jakarta said
that 15.6 million people barely spoke the national language,
especially those living in East Java. -- Antara

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Across-Batam
Batam to supply water to Singapore
JP/5/Batam

Batam to supply water to Singapore

BATAM, Riau: The Batam Authority plans to build a 160-
kilometer-long pipe from Kampar river in mainland Riau to the
industrial island as part of its effort to supply water to
neighboring Singapore.

Head of the water administration unit of the Batam Authority
Frieddy Tanoto said on Tuesday that a six-month feasibility study
was underway to assess the possibility of carrying water from the
mainland to Batam island.

As yet, an average volume of 385 cubic meters of water flowed
from Kampar river to the sea without being effectively utilized,
he said.

Frieddy said the supply of water from the mainland would be
more than enough to meet the demand of Batam island alone, and
the surplus could be supplied to Singapore as a commodity.

The tiny city-state of Singapore is at the mercy of
neighboring countries like Indonesia and Malaysia for its water
supply. -- Antara

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Across-DPD
Noted figures bid for DPD seats
JP/5/language

Noted figures bid for DPD seats

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: A number of former high-ranking
government officials are making their bid for the vacant seats at
the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) to represent South
Sulawesi in the 2004 general elections.

Of the 132 people who had picked up registration forms by
Tuesday, noted figures like former chairman of the Supreme
Advisory Council A. Baramuli, former state minister for state
enterprises Tanri Abeng and former president of state-owned
telecommunications company PT Indosat Jonathan L. Parapak were
among those who had shown an interest in running for the DPD
seats.

A number of local figures have also shown their intent to
contend in the election scheduled for April 3 next year,
including Iskandar Mandji, Halim Kalla, Azis Kahar Muzakkar,
Tadjuddin Noer Said and Mansyur A Sultan.

The candidates will vie for four seats in the provincial DPD.

The planned DPD will be the first Regional Representatives
Council to be elected directly by the people. -- Antara

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Across-Army
Army soldier missing in Papua
JP/5/Army

Army soldier missing in Papua

JAYAPURA, Papua: Members of the Trikora Regional Military
Command have been trying to find their field commander Second
Sgt. Irpan Efendi, who went missing on June 28, chief of the
regional command Major GT Situmorang said.

Irpan went missing while he was patrolling Bewani village with
a dog near the Indonesian Papua province-Papua New Guinea border,
Situmorang confirmed here Tuesday.

Bewani village is known as a stronghold of the separatist Free
Papua Movement (OPM), which has been trying to set up an
independent state within the underdeveloped resource-rich
province since the 1960s.

Before Irpan went missing, he was running alone in the
direction of his dog, who was barking, but hours later the dog
came back without his master, Situmorang said.

Irpan's subordinates then tried to find their chief but
failed, he said. -- Antara